Scraper



Oct. 16 1923. 1,470,853

- R.G.LETOURNEAU SCRAPER Filed Sept. 27. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

R G.L-e Tourneau/ ATTORNEY Oct. 16 1923. 1,470,853

R. G. LE TOURNEAU V SCRAPER Filed Sept. 27. 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. R G.Le Town/emu,

TTORNEY R. G. LE TOURNEAU Oct. 16 1923.

INVENTOR.

R. G.Le Tantra/em TTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SCRAPER Filed .Sept. 27. 1922 Patented Oct. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES ROBERT G. LE TQURNEAU, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

SCBAPER.

Application filed September 27, 1922. Serial No. 590,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that -I, ROBERT G. La TOURNEAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scrapers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of referen e marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in scraping and land-leveling devices of great scraping and carrying capacity, intended to be drawn by a tractor, and particularly to a type whose movements are controlled in general in the manner shown in my copending application on a scraper and spreader, Serial No. 574654. filed July 13th, 1922.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide such a scraper with a telcscopic scoop structure. constructed and controlled in such a manner that a much greater load may be scraped and carried by the scraper than by one without this form of scoop, and without increasing the width of the latter or necessitating a tractor of greater power to pull the scraper.

The scraping and carrying capacity of an ordinary scoop is governed by its width rather than its depth or fore and aft length, since the resistance of the dirt against being piled up and moved bodily backward as it is being scraped is so at as to cause a tractor to become stalle before a scoop of any great depth may be filled.

This might of course be overcome by increasing the width of the scoop, or using a tractor having a horse-power suflicient to overcome any such resistance. To overly increase the width of the scoop, however not only makes an unwieldy device, but a very heavy one, since it must be heavily, braced to prevent lateral sag. To use'a tractor of size having reserve power suflicient to overcome the above noted dirt resistance when necessary necessitates an expenditure for such a machine which would not be warranted and would increase the cost of the liand levelling operations to an excessive ith my improved machine, the above difiiculties are obviated, since as a load is scraped into the front end of the scoop, it

may be gradually moved to the rear of-the scoop by positively controlled power means,

which may be done with far less power than would be needed to force the dirt to so move back merely by the forward movement of the scoop in engagement with the ground, 1 the dirt. as previously stated offering produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the scraper in normal loading position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the inner scoop moved to the rear. the dumping position of the device being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged rear end view of the device, the scoop members being in a position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical and rear end section of a scoop-catch mechanism, with the inner scoop moved to the rear, as in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, both scoops having been raised at their rear ends.

Fi 6 is a perspective view of the catch mom 1' detached.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the scoop structure, showing a modified structure for moving the inner scoop.

Fig. 8 is a similar-view showing still another form of inner scoop control.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the

neoted to a tractor.

Located intermediate the ends of the frame is the main scoop 4 having bottom and side members 5 and 6 respectively. This scoop is held from longitudinal movement by-means of radius rods 7 pivoted to the front end of the sides 6 and to the frame 1 ahead of said scoop.

Pivoted to the scoop in common with said bars are vertical bars 8 having on their upper portions rack teeth 9 engaged by pinions 10, the latter being driven by an elecar drives as shown, and more particularly atured in my copending application-heretric motor 11 mounted on the framework 2 through the medium of belt and worm inbefore identified.

By this means the front end of the scoop may be raised or positively lowered and de ressed at will.

glidably mounted between the walls of the main scoop is an auxiliary scoop 12, having a length approximately half that of the main scoop. .This scoop 12 is partially supported by a transverse roller 13 resting on' the-bottom of the main scoop and prevented from forward movement thereon beyond a certain point by stop means 14:, this stop being located so that when the auxiliary scoo is in its forward position it will be tilteddown at its front end and the latter will rest on the bottom of the main scoop adjacent the front end of the latter.

The auxiliary scoop itself is prevented,

from forward movement beyond a certain oint by abutting against the front end gracing members 15 of the scoop 4. In operation, the front end of the mai scoop is contacted with the ground and as the machine moves forward, the dirt is scraped and passed onto the auxiliary or inner scoop.

After the inner scoop has received its full load, according to the judgment of the operator, the scoop is gradually drawn back as the machine continues its forward movement, allowing the incoming dirt to pile up against and ahead of the first load without having to forcibly push back or surmount the latter in order for it to be accommodated in the scoop.

The total load able to be scraped at one operation is therefore nearly, if not fully, twice as great as could be successfully or economically scraped into a single scoop the size of the inner scoop used, which itself is as large as could be successfully or ecoscraper.

nomically employed in the ordinary type of This movement may be imparted to the scraper in various ways.

For instance, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, a cable 16 may lead from a drum 17 mounted on the framework 2 above the scoops to and above a sheave 18 mounted just inside the rear end of the main scoop, and thence to a connection with the back of the inner scoop.

The drum 17 is rotated by an electric motor 19 in the same manner as the pinions 10, but of course independently thereof.

While for convenience of showing and description but one cable 16 and its cooperating features has been shown, two of each would be used, owing to the great width of the scraper as a whole.

These cables are intended not only to draw the inner scoop back, but also to raise the rear end of the main $000 for dumping purposes, after this-rear setting of the inner scoop has been attained.

When loading the scoops however, all strain is taken off these cables by means of vertically adjustable brackets 20 secured to and depending from the frames 1, and on which the rear end of the main scoop normally rests a certain distance from the ground.

With this arrangement of the control cables, a possible tendency of the rear end of the main scoop which is unloaded at the time) being raise instead of the loaded inner scoop being first drawn back, is prevented by means of horizontally and transversely disposed rectangular catches 21 slidably mounted in the brackets 20, these catches normally projecting through and beyond horizontal slots or holes 22 in the sides of the main scoop, these slots being longer than the width of the catches so as to permit of the slight end movement of said scoop, as it is moved up or down at its front end, said movement being of course due to the swinging of the radius rods 7 about their pivotal connection with the frame 1 as an axis.

The catches are normally held in the i above named position by means of suitably disposed springs 23 placed about the stems 21 thereof, and enclosed in housings 24 mounted on the brackets 20 and projecting outwardly thereof; The catches are beveled to a predetermined extent and degree on their upper, lower and. forward faces, as at A, B and C respectively, so that as the inner scoop moves back and approaches its rearmost position the edges of the sides thereof will engage the bevel face C of the catches and cause the latter to be moved inwardly so as to lie substantially flush with the inner face of the sides of the outer scoop. In this position,-the lower bevel faces B of said catches are in position tobe engaged by the lower edges of the slots 22, so that any further pulllng uponthe cables 16 after the inner scoop has reached its limit of rearward movement, will cause the catches to be moved inwardly and out of said slots 22 entirely, thus allowing the scoop free upward movement for dumping.

W hen the main scoop has moved entirely above the catches, the latter of course resume their normal positions, and as the scoop a aindescends, the upper bevel faces A will e engaged and the catches forced inwardly so as to allow the scoop to pass thereby until the slots 22 again aline with said catches, when the latter will of course move to their normal locking position.

During the rearward movement of the inner scoop, the roller 13, if not hindered from free movement, will roll half the total distance said scoop moves, leaving said roller still well under the scoop.

There is a possibility however, that the roller may stick on the bottom of the main scoop for some reason, so as to tend to allow the inner scoop to be moved beyond the roller. Such a contingency is prevented by placing a transverse stop-bar 25 on and under the inner scoop ahead of the normal travel of the roller, but adapted to engage and force the roller back and prevent the same from being left ahead of said scoop, the said stop being arranged so as not to interfere with the stop member 14 projecting up from the main scoop. For instance, the stops 14 may be short members near the sides of the scoop, while the member 25 may be intermediate said stops. Or the reverse arrangement may be employed.

When both scoops have been raised to the dumping position and the load dumped, so that the inner scoop is then light, a slacking of the cables 16 will first cause the scoop 12 to resume its normal position at the front end of the main scoop 4, the roller 13 likewise resuming its normal position, which is against the stops 14, thus causing said roller to have a proper transverse alinement, should it have become skewed when moving to the rear.

After the inner scoop has thus resumed its a normal position, further slackening or lowering of the cables 16 causes the main scoop to be lowered to its normal resting place on the brackets 20.

These brackets are adjustable vertically so that if desired the normal angular setting of the scoop relative to the ground may be altered at will.

In the form of control for the scoops shown in Fi .,7 the cables 16 are attached directly to t e rear end of the main scoop 4, while independent cables 26 wound on drums 27 mounted on the inner scoop 12 and driven by anindependent electric motor :28, pass about sheaves 29 fixed to and inside the rear end of the main scoop to connections with the rear end of the inner scoop.

This arrangement of course eliminates the need of any catch members such as have previousl been described.

Another means of control for the scoops, which may also eliminate the need of any catches, is shown in Fig. 8. In this type common cables 16 are used to control both scoops. These cables pass about sheaves 18' fixed and positioned on the main scoop 4" the same as sheaves 18, thence about sheaves 30 fixed on the rear end of the inner scoop 12", and thence rearwardl to a fixed connection with the sides of t e main scoop, as shown at 31. This arrangement exertsan initial pull on the inner scoo tending to draw the same back, greater t an the pull tending to raise the main scoop.

If desired or found necessary, the roller 13 may be omitted in which case the inner scoop would be merely slidably mounted in the main scoop.

From the foregoing description it will be' readily seen that I have roduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended c aims.

Having thus described my invention,

.scoop, and means for moving the inner scoop to the rear of the main scoop at will.

3. A scraper including a main scoop, an inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally positioned in the front ortion of the main scoop, means for drawing the inner scoop to the rear of the main scoop at will, and means for then raising both scoops in common.

4. A scraper including a main scoop, an inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally positioned in the front portion of the main scoop, and a common means for first drawing the inner scoop to the rear of the main &

scoop and for then raising the rear end of the main scoop'at will, the inner scoop being likewise raised.

5. A scraper including a main scoop, an inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally posi tioned in the front portion of the main scoop, a common means for first drawing the inner scoop to the rear of the main scoop and for then raising the rear end of the mainv scoop, and means preventing such latter movement until the inner scoop has attained its rearmost position.

6. A scraper including a .main scoop, an inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally positioned in the front portion of the main scoop, a common means. for first drawing the inner scoop to the rear of the main scoop, and for raising the rear end ofthe main scoop, and means whereby said main scoop cannot be raised until the inner scoop has reached its limit of rearward movement.

7. A scraper including a main scoop, an inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally positioned in the front portion of the main scoop, a common means for first drawing the inner scoop to the rear of the main scoop, and for raising the rear end of the main scoop and catch means acting on the main 1 scoop for preventing the raising of the latter until the inner scoop has attained a predetermined position with respect to the main scoop.

8. A scraper including a main scoop, a

I shorter inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally positioned in the front portion of the main scoop, a common means for first drawing the inner scoop to the rear of the main scoop,

and for raising the rear end of the main scoop and catch means acting on the main scoop to normally prevent its being raised, and means whereby said catch means is moved to a release position when theinner scoop has been moved to the rear of the main scoop.

9. A scraper including a main scoop, an

inner scoop slidably mounted therein for '1 moses fore and aft movement and tioned in the front portion of the main scoop, a common means for first drawing the iner scoop to the rear of the main scoop, and for raising the rear end of the main scoop and catch means acting on the main scoo to normally prevent its being raised and arranged to be moved toa 're-' lease position by the inner scoop as the latter attains its rearward limit of travel.

10. A scraper including a main scoop, a shorter inner scoop slidably mounted therein for fore and aft movement and normally positioned in the frontportion ofthe main scoop, means for drawing the inner scoo to the rear of the-main scoop at will and ric-' scoop, means for drawing the inner scoop' to the rear of the main scoop at will, free roller means positioned between bottoms of the inner and main scoops and means limiting the forward movement of said roller means both with respect to the main and inner scoops.

13. In a scraper, a wheel supported frame, a scoop mounted therewith, and arranged for vertical movement, and brackets mounted on the frame and normally supporting the scoop at its rear end..

- 14. In a scraper, a wheel supported frame,

normally posia scoop mounted therewith, and arranged for vertical movement, and vertically adjustable brackets mounted on the frame and on which the rear end of the scoop normally rests.

In testimonfiwhereof I aflix m signature.

ROB RT G. LE TOU NEAU. 

